How Toyota Finance Australia Used Coffee To Bring Their Workplace To Life
When Toyota Finance Australia moved into their newly refurbished Sydney headquarters, they weren’t just looking to fill a beautiful office. They were looking to create a space that people genuinely wanted to return to — not because they had to, but because they chose to.
With hybrid work becoming the new normal, Toyota Finance Australia needed more than just furniture and function. They needed a cultural catalyst — something to anchor daily connection, spark spontaneous conversation, and build community.
15+
minutes saved per coffee break
$3-4
saving per coffee to the employee
The Challenge
Following a major head office relocation, Toyota Finance Australia faced a challenge shared by many modern workplaces: how do you bring people back to the office — and make them want to stay?
With a hybrid workforce, rising expectations around workplace experience, and a brand new fit-out at 225 George Street, Toyota Finance Australia needed a new way to inspire attendance, drive connection, and create a cultural heartbeat in their space. Simply put: they didn’t need just a barista — they needed a reason.
The Brief
Design a workplace coffee solution that:
- Encourages cross-functional connection
- Increases in-office attendance without mandates
- Reflects Toyota Finance’s employer value proposition and premium design intent
- Delivers measurable cultural and operational impact
Our Solution
Coffee On Cue delivered a seamless, full-service in-house coffee program that quickly became the workplace’s social centrepiece.
What We Implemented:
- $1 flat-rate coffee menu featuring specialty coffee roasted in-house
- Full-time baristas embedded onsite as trusted community anchors
- La Marzocco equipment for consistent, high-quality output
- Strategic placement of the coffee bar to serve as a “natural water cooler”
- Real-time reporting to measure consumption, usage, and ROI
What Made It Stick:
- 4-week trial to reduce perceived risk and secure stakeholder buy-in
- Cultural reframing: coffee as a tool for connection, not a cost
- Hands-on leadership engagement — including our baristas serving Toyota Finance Australia’s CEO
“You want people to come to the office because they want to — not because they have to. This gives them a reason.”
Anette Hon, Project Lead | Toyota Finance Australia
“No one even leaves a cup out — they know the space, they respect the barista. That speaks volumes.”
Rachelle Tappenden, Workplace Lead | Toyota Finance Australia
“It’s not just about productivity — it’s about reinvesting time into relationships.”
Anette Hon, Project Lead | Toyota Finance Australia
“We framed it not as a perk, but as a catalyst for the workplace we wanted to create.”
Rachelle Tappenden, Workplace Lead | Toyota Finance Australia
The Results
Culture-First Transformation
- The coffee bar became a daily touchpoint across departments
- 60% of staff reported more interaction outside their teams
- Regular praise from vendors and guests who reference the coffee bar as a “wow” moment
Voluntary Attendance Lift
- Tuesdays and Thursdays now reach 100% desk capacity (308 seats)
- Monday attendance jumped from 80 to 180+
- Friday — once empty — now averages 80–100 staff onsite
Retention & Productivity Impact
- Barista service added to onboarding EVP
- Staff save $3–$4 per coffee compared to local cafés
- 15+ minutes saved per break — redirected into meaningful connection
Pride in Space, Respect for People
- Cups returned, space kept spotless
- Baristas (Kyle and Pablo) considered “part of the tribe”
Quantifiable Impact
- 170+ coffees served on a regular day
- 4.5x FTE hours re-invested
- Significant drop in offsite café traffic
- Sustainability wins through reusable cup uptake and environmental reporting
Why It Worked
“It’s not just about productivity — it’s about reinvesting time into relationships.”
— Anette Hon
“We framed it not as a perk, but as a catalyst for the workplace we wanted to create.”
— Rachelle Tappenden
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